Staff Spotlight: M. Alex Clingman
Alex is continuously searching for spaces and places to collaborate with others in a meaningful way.
Throughout these pursuits, he practices what he refers to as ‘optimistic incrementalism’ to address some of the most wicked problems of our time, like a rapidly changing climate. He also firmly believes in the power of an equitable, low-carbon economy to positively impact communities and ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It is no wonder, then, why he is thrilled to be joining Sustainable Northwest as its Clean Energy Program Manager.
The value of fresh air and open space has remained a constant in Alex’s life, from his earliest memories to the present day. Growing up between the lakes of New Hampshire, Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and Rockies of western Colorado exposed him to the multitude of benefits that result from spending time outside. After undergraduate studies at Appalachian State University, where he was also a trip leader for its outdoor programs, he set his sights on the next professional objective.
A stint living in Chile, as well as working the grape harvest in New Zealand, led Alex to landing a ‘dream job’ at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company focused on experiential marketing and partnerships. He cites this as a pivotal moment in his career path. “I had the opportunity to go to work every day at the nation’s first US Green Building Council certified LEED [Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design] Platinum production brewery. The company was not only constantly innovating its beer recipes, but it was also attempting to lessen its environmental impact through industry-leading processes and closed loop designs.”
This experience convinced Alex it was time to elevate his impact in an operation. As a result, he headed back west to pursue an MBA in Corporate Sustainability from Colorado State University. He then returned to Sierra Nevada’s sustainability team to conduct a climate risk assessment of its value chain, applying technical climate models to hop, barley, water, and energy use.
This research shed light on co-branded initiatives with partners like Ceres, Sierra Club, Protect Our Winters, and the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association ‘NCSEA’, of which Sierra Nevada was a part. Eventually, a knack for coalition-building and advocacy led him to take a job with NCSEA in clean energy to become steeped in state and federal policy. His role was centered around advancing clean energy initiatives across the state through engagement with the organization’s private and public sector members, as well as the NC Utilities Commission and bipartisan legislature.
Alex joins SNW with a depth of experience. He is ready to continue ‘chipping away’ at the barriers to a decarbonized economy and protect local communities and ecosystems along the way. Alex is most excited to lead SNW’s community energy development work and continue collaborating with industry partners. In this effort, he plans to expand the reach of Project Greenlight to bring reliable, clean energy to more rural and Tribal communities.
“Sustainable Northwest’s mission and values are in natural alignment with my personal and professional goals. I feel lucky to have joined a team of driven individuals making an impact across our programmatic focuses to support healthy forests and soil, cold water, fresh air, and, of course, clean energy!”
Alex lives in Hood River, OR, with his wife, Audrey, their dog Banjo, and a three-legged cat named Oliver. When he isn’t working, Alex is likely planning his next trip to the mountains for an alpine climbing or lake-lounging adventure. He hopes to climb the Northwest Face of Forbidden Peak, go for some long runs around volcanoes, and ski every month in 2024.
Book recommendations: The Snow Leopard, Into Thin Air, Dharma Bums, Endurance, Kafka on the Shore, and River of Doubt
